Apostrophes least of Mid Devon's problems

Pope Francis has been hailed by some commentators as the first working-class pope (Report, 16 March). The fathers of his five predecessors have been respectively: a policeman, a tailor, a bricklayer, a lawyer and a sharecropper. John XXIII was the third of 13 children. The sixth of these predecessors was indeed the descendant and relative of Vatican insiders. It seems the papacy hasn't been the preserve of the sons of the privileged for some time – even if they continue to be elderly white men.Alison Harris Pontefract, West Yorkshire

• Given the reductions in local government budgets, it is surprising there is no mention of the costs of replacing Mid Devon district council's street signs (Outrage at local authority plans to abolish apostrophe, 16 March). Irrespective of the confusion caused by the presence of the apostrophe, residents must surely be befuddled by the priorities of their councillors.Neil MacehiterCambridge

• Mid Devon district council made its decision only after carrying out a "risk assessment". Will visitors to Devon now be greeted with signs exhorting them to "Beware of apostrophes"?Robert ReadmanBournemouth, Dorset

• When Sheryl Sandberg's Facebook staff go to the "graffiti wall" ('I want this to get better', 16 March), shouldn't that be peons inscribing paeans to the company?J OldakerNuneaton, Warwickshire

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